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AWD always activated

12K views 33 replies 13 participants last post by  that_guy 
#1 ·
If this has been posted before please direct me;

Problem: AWD systems seems to be always activated despite temperature being above activation temperature and vehicle wipers not activated. Vehicle is 2014 Dodge Charger AWD pursuit with 25,000 miles. Vehicle is still under warranty; I assume it's best to just have them look at it but if it's an alignment issue, I don't believe it's covered under warranty.

Any suggestions appreciated.
 
#4 ·
Agreed. This is not supposed to be active all the time and I would take it in.
 
#5 ·
Am I the only one who wants a full-time AWD? Unless I'm cruising on the highway, I always drive with the traction control off, which puts the beast on AWD mode. Just added peace of mind that I can floor it any time I want and I won't slip.

Otherwise, if I let it go in to RWD mode, that once in a blue moon when I am turning aggressively or accelerating I start to fishtail. Well by then even though the AWD kicks in, it's like closing the barn doors after the horse have left, isn't it?
 
#6 ·
Ha I can see how that can have it's advantage. My main concern is just that it's not functioning properly. Don't get me wrong, I like to let 'er rip once in a while. But I would mind some better MPG in town/highway. Having it always activated in winter certainly helps, I was pleasantly surprised by it's performance in snow.
 
#7 ·
If I know I need instant traction to say yield into fast moving traffic or smoke some dude off the line I just slap the shifter into manual mode (once to the left) which instantly puts the car into AWD mode. It becomes second nature after a while. I love my car.
 
#8 ·
If you need any help or further assistance in getting your vehicle to the dealership, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Kori
Dodge Social Care Specialist
 
#9 ·
I've made an appointment with a Dodge dealership for July 8th so stay tuned for the resolution if you're interested.

Update on problem: RWD does engage during highway travel after about a minute. Once brakes are applied, such as stopping at the end of the off-ramp, AWD is always engaged.
 
#12 ·
Please give us an update when you have one!

Kori
Dodge Social Care Specialist
 
#10 ·
I agree I love the AWD mode but im with 10RTawd if I need it in AWD mode just slap it over and it will automatically put it in that mode.......Mongo best thing is to have it taken care of in your warranty...You still should have your 36k miles bumper to bumper warranty if its a 2014 still.....Let me know what they say about it when you get it worked on/fixed.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Mongo:
I agree that since the AWD system does not appear to be functioning as designed, it should be looked into while the bill is on their tab and not yours.
That being said, AWD is a fantastic thing! I bought my Gen 2 04 Durango because of the AWD.
One may never know what problems were avoided while rolling down the road because of it.

Pulling out into traffic with wet roads or other debris present can allow FWD or RWD to slip and spin leaving you a sitting duck. AWD just grabs and goes.

The mpg penalty is not what many folk believe it is either. The extra weight presented by the additional AWD hardware vs a 2WD model does affect mpg a bit.
AWD vs part time 4x4 is less so because the extra weight of the necessary hardware is there whether or not it is under power.

The difference between the mpg of my part time 4x4 01 Durango 4.7L and the present 04 Hemi Durango AWD with 100 more HP is negligible.

I have hit 20 mpg a time or two in the 04, and never in the 01 with it's 4.7 engine and less power.


BTW, is there a light or other indication on the dash that the AWD is engaged?

Don
 
#15 ·
If your '15 AWD is like the previous years, (which I'm sure it would be) the AWD kicks on in many variables. It will when it is wet out, when it is cold out (below 39*F), when the wipers are on constantly, and when the wheels start to slip.
 
#17 ·
UPDATE: Brought to Dodge service and they flashed both the PCM and TCM and found no codes in system. It was explained to me that AWD is activated when road and environmental conditions that require increased level of traction AWD is activated. Such as; outside temperature, wheel slip, or other predetermined conditions.

I feel with normal road conditions and normal driving on a clear, dry summer day does not fulfill these requirements.

I don't feel they fixed the problem even though TCM and PCM were flashed.

Can anyone with a AWD charger confirm or deny that their car is in AWD mode while city driving in normal conditions and stock operation (no auto stick, etc)
 
#19 ·
My charger will go i to awd if i hit a dip or a bump where one tire wont touch the pavemeng due to a bump or dip.... If commercial building or homes are watering there grass and my car runs through it it will go to awd mode....thats really the only time it goes on unless i turn it on
 
#21 · (Edited)
Mongo:
From my 2013 Charger brochure:

AWD will automatically engage under a number of scenarios.

*When wheel slip is detected
*When the Auto Stick mode is engaged
*When Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is turned off.
*When windshield wipers are activated
*When ambient temp is below 39 degrees F
*When the paddle shifters are used.

Something to consider is that yours is a police model, and it is (or should be) known that the engineers will frequently offer different operating parameters for the LE folks.
The answer you seek may lie in this bit of info.

A good example of this is that the V8 LE Chargers have a governed top speed of 150 as is. They can also be ordered with that number lowered to 135.
Most civilian cars today are limited to the speed rating of their oem tires for liability reasons

I attend the Michigan State Police vehicle evaluations every September. I have some brochures for the LE Chargers. I'll take a look, and see what I can find for you related to this.

Don
 
#22 ·
I'd appreciate that. And those parameters you listed are what I also knew as to when the AWD engaged. The service personnel at the dealership basically said they flashed the modules and gave me a paragraph of what you just listed. I know I'm not meeting those parameters and I assume the pursuit wouldn't be different from that because of fuel consumption.

I just wish I can recall how it acted when I first purchased the vehicle. I never payed much attention to it until lately.

I'm seeking a second opinion at a different service dealership.
 
#26 ·
Ttony

That is interesting. In my case so far, we have had a number of days where the temps are below 39 degrees, so mine has been in AWD quite a bit. There have been some very nice days though, and it will switch to RWD pretty quickly once it is out of the garage, and moving around.

I have noted that there is a delay in what the dash display says when moving back to RWD. I would assume there is a bit of a delay in changing modes simply to avoid too much switching.

The other day, temps were well above 39 degrees, and I was making a right turn on green at an intersection when a left turn lane fellow across from me decided to run the red light. I gave the gas pedal a stab to be sure I would not be in his path, and the right rear wheel began to chirp. The AWD kicked in, the chirp stopped, and away I went!

Don
 
#28 ·
If you experience any snow/ice during your daily drive or lots of rainy weather AWD is the ONLY way to go. The traction is incredible. It feels like more than double the traction as compared to a RWD only car.

Whether I'm on dry pavement, wet pavement, snow or ice if I wanna get going in a hurry I just punch it and the car takes care of the rest. I can honestly say I've never been left behind at a red light regardless of what season it was and where I live it's winter like 5 months of the year.

When I'm lined up next to AWD and 4x4 crossovers / SUVs / trucks in the winter I just get a KICK out of leaving them in a cloud of snow. It's my favorite thing about winter. I'm 42 years old but call me a punk, I don't even care, it's just that much fun to drive an AWD R/T.
 
#30 ·
Don, I'm 99% sure it's because Pursuit AWDs are programmed to be in AWD more than a civilian model. My Pursuit *only* goes into RWD when I'm cruising a steady speed for at least a minute (and it's above 38°, wipers off). I can only accomplish this on the interstate or rural highway.

As soon as I come to a stop, tap my brakes, or gun it, it goes back to AWD.

Of course all this was solved with the Tazer. I programmed the "Force RWD" function to one of my auxillary buttons on my steering wheel. Now I can decide when my car goes to AWD.

The funny thing is I've been keeping my car in full time RWD for the past 5 months and have only seen an average 1 mpg improvement overall.
 
#33 · (Edited)
Through my time spent on the Durango forum, I learned early on that the penalty for 4x4/awd is not what folks think it would be. 250-400 pounds of extra weight really does not effect mpg enough to outweigh the benefits of power to all wheels.

The beauty of AWD is that it can run 24/7 if needed, whereas an old school 4x4 system is for slippery surfaces or off road only. Having the added safety/traction of AWD is worth the 1 or 2 mpg hit IMO.

If one lives in a climate where there is no winter, all wheel traction could be less of an issue. Taking off in the rain, ie, pulling out of a parking lot or side street without wheel spin in wet weather is something I don't miss.

Don
 
#34 ·
I've never seen a noticeable change in economy in rwd vs awd in either my Charger or Durango.




Unless you've got an NV242 :grin2:. Hell, not even the Charger has a center diff.
 
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